A vending apparatus includes an interface configured to allow a user to select a consumable for use in an aerosol generating device. A first compartment stores the selected consumable. A dispenser apparatus is configured to dispense the selected consumable from the first compartment to the user. A controller is operably coupled to the user interface and the dispenser apparatus and is configured to cause the dispenser to retrieve the selected consumable from the first compartment and to dispense the selected consumable to the user. A communication apparatus is operably coupled to the controller and is configured to receive data regarding the aerosol generating device.

Systems and methods are provided to mitigate flaring of natural gas. A natural gas processing system may process raw natural gas into a fuel gas stream that may be used to power any number of on-site power generation modules. In turn, the power generation modules may convert the fuel gas stream into an electrical output, which may be employed to power any number of distributed computing units housed within one or more mobile data centers. In certain embodiments, the distributed computing units may be adapted to mine cryptocurrency or perform other distributed computing tasks to generate revenue.

A method includes determining a fuel amount; providing navigation directions; determining a vehicle arrival; transmitting a fuel purchase request; controlling a tank cover; receiving fuel; detecting that a tank is full; and transmitting a stop fueling request. A computer system includes a processor configured to: determine a fuel amount; provide navigation directions; determine a vehicle arrival; transmit a fuel purchase request; cause a pump to provide fuel; control a tank cover; detect that a tank is full; and transmit a stop fueling request. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing thereon a set of instructions that, when executed on a processor, causes the processor to: determine a fuel amount; provide navigation directions; determine a vehicle arrival; transmit a fuel purchase request; cause a pump to provide fuel; control a tank cover; detect that fuel tank is full; and transmit a stop fueling request.

Methods, systems, apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable media are described for using a vehicle as a payment device. Various aspects may include receiving a selection of a stored financial card or financial account at a vehicle head unit. The selected financial card or financial account may be transmitted to a point-of-sale (POS) terminal for making a payment by transmitting a tokenized card number to the POS terminal. The tokenized card number may be transmitted over a very short-range communication link to ensure that the transmission is secure. For example, electronic circuitry may be attached to the exterior of the vehicle, where the electronic circuitry may be within a threshold distance (e.g. one inch, three inches, six inches, one foot, three feet, etc.) of the POS terminal. The tokenized card number may be transmitted from the vehicle head unit to the electronic circuitry and then to the POS terminal.

A commerce management device (1) is comprised of a transaction log; a sales quantity calculator (113) that calculates a quantity of sales of a digital product; a resell order count calculator (114) that calculates a resell order count based on a resell order form that is issued by a participant and recorded in a digital product resell order queue; and a price determiner (112) that determines the price in the next transaction by employing a monotonically increasing mathematical function that calculates a transaction price by taking, as an argument, a net quantity of sales obtained by subtracting the resell order count from the quantity of sales.

An electro-mechanical device is disclosed. The electro-mechanical device has an electrical switch and a mechanical meter operably connected to the electrical switch. The mechanical meter includes at least one aperture. The mechanical meter includes at least one movable member having at least one of a plurality of barcodes or a plurality of characters. The at least one of the plurality of barcodes or the plurality of characters is selectively visible through the at least one aperture.

An improved gas discount system enables discount membership companies to provide gasoline to subscribing members at discounted retail prices at virtually any participating retail gas station. At the time of prepayment, a discounted wholesale price component per gallon, negotiated between the discount membership company and the gas wholesaler, is locked in at the selected retail gas station for a selected grade of gas up to the dollar amount of the prepayment. The discounted retail price per gallon is based on the discounted wholesale gas price component per gallon at the selected station for a selected grade of gas at the time of prepayment. The gas discount system can also be used for grades of gas and retail gas stations other than those selected at the time of prepayment. In that case, the discounted retail gas price is based on a discounted wholesale gas price component per gallon at the time of delivery.

Methods, systems, and devices for secure payment and providing multimedia at fuel dispensers are provided. In general, a fuel dispenser can include a terminal configured to receive secure information and to show multimedia. The terminal can be configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode. The terminal can include a touchscreen. In the first mode, the touchscreen can have a shield enabled thereon that is configured to reduce a field of view of the touchscreen such that the touchscreen is only visible from specific angle(s). In the second mode, the shield can be disabled such that the touchscreen does not have a reduced field of view.

The present invention provides a virtual code-based transaction system, method and program, wherein the method includes a virtual code reception step in which a virtual code verification means receives a virtual code, and the virtual code is generated by a virtual code generation function included in a virtual code generation means, searching, by the virtual code verification means, for a storage location of a User Identification (UID) in the virtual code, searching, by the virtual code verification means, for control command information stored by matching the searched UID, and performing a control command based on the extracted control command information, wherein the virtual code verification means stores a plurality of UIDs and changes control command information matched to each of the plurality of UIDs every preset period.

The method and system allows for users to share and be rewarded for information submitted or actions performed, including reports containing messages, images, videos, and geolocation data, of any issues they encounter. The submissions can be shared with the appropriate organization and/or stored on a server, and uploaded to a blockchain to ensure that there is a permanent, tamper-proof record verifying the authenticity of all related transactions. Each submission or action can be verified to create a rating for each user. The system can additionally provide a trust rating for a municipality, facility, venue or organization itself as well. Such a trust rating can be a function of the number of reports submitted by users and the resolution of such reports. The system can have the ability to reward users with digital value in return for receiving and verifying authenticity of the information, and to provide such users with the ability to redeem those rewards for goods and services.